Cobb County, GA Sign Regulations: Digital Billboards (2026)
Key Facts
- Brightness cap
- 0.30 footcandles above ambient
- Minimum message duration
- 10 seconds, static only
- Allowed sign type
- Freestanding only
- Malfunction rule
- Shut off if 50%+ lights fail
Summary
Cobb County caps electronic sign brightness at 0.30 footcandles above ambient light and requires static messages held at least ten seconds.
Electronic signs shall contain static messages only that are displayed for not less than ten seconds and shall not have movement nor flashing on any part of the sign structure, design, or pictorial segment of the sign, nor shall such sign have varying light intensity during the display of any single message. Transitions between messages shall not use frame effects or other methods which result in movement of a displayed image during such transition.c.Electronic signs may not operate at brightness levels of more than 0.30 footcandles (under measurement conditions) above ambient light levels as measured at the following distances:
Electric Sign Square Feet Feet Distance < 100 square feet 100 feet 201 square feet—300 square feet 150 feet > 300 square feet 250 feet
d.Each sign must have a light sensing device that will adjust the brightness of the display as the natural ambient light conditions change.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 53).
Full Breakdown
Unincorporated Cobb County allows electronic signs only as freestanding signs, never as canopy, wall or awning signs. Messages must be static, held for at least ten seconds, with no flashing, movement or varying light intensity, and transitions cannot use frame effects that create the appearance of motion. Brightness cannot exceed 0.30 footcandles above ambient light as measured at set distances tied to sign size, and every sign needs a light-sensing device that automatically dims it as natural light changes.
Violations & Fines
If more than half a digital display's lights malfunction, the owner must shut it off until repaired; on complaint, the county can require an independent brightness certification, and an over-bright sign must be switched off within 24 hours of notice until corrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a digital billboard flash or scroll in Cobb County?
Is there a brightness limit for electronic signs in Cobb County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cobb County
Compare Cobb County to another location·View the Georgia sign regulations overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.